Festler Officially Declares for USHL

number56 · Post by **number56** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 8:16 am

From the Morrison County Record:

Festler chooses U.S. Hockey League

Matt Perkins
Staff Writer

The Little Falls hockey team will play next season without who coach Tony Couture called "the best player in school history."

Jared Festler, a forward for the Flyers, has chosen to bypass his senior season with the high school team to play for the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League.

Festler will be the first area high schooler to play in the USHL.

"We all wish him the best of luck, of course," Couture said. "But we are also going to miss his talent on our hockey team. In the past we've had players get injured and other players step up, and we're going to need that to happen again."

Couture said he went through a period of absolute selfishness when he first heard the news, feeling sorry for himself and his team.

"The kids we have on our team are all quality kids," he said. "They'll probably have some of the same selfish feelings I did initially, but they'll get through it. We still have a talented group and we're looking forward to next season."

Kevin Festler, Jared's father, said it was his son's decision to move on to the USHL.

"Personally, my wife and I would have loved him to decide to stay in town and play another year," he said. "But this was his decision and it's his hockey career. I'm just going to be missing my duck hunting partner."

Mite-dad · Post by **Mite-dad** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 11:22 am

Rats! But best of luck to him. He's a great kid.

RLStars · Post by **RLStars** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 11:34 am

Best of luck to Jared, hope everything goes well for him. We'll miss watching him play. Looks like the new section 6a is wide open after the blow to the flyers with Jared moving on.

The Exiled One · Post by **The Exiled One** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 1:23 pm

As an SCSU fan, it'll be nice to see him in a Husky sweater a year sooner. Also, if he can dominate in the USHL like he has everywhere else he's played, then his draft stock will skyrocket. Still though, a tough decision. Good luck Jared!!

thieves · Post by **thieves** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:32 pm

jared....WFO.

Stealth · Post by **Stealth** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:42 pm

You know, Alexandria did beat Small Falls pretty handily last week at Hockey Fest.
I think they won their own tourney?
Maybe Jared dropped the bomb in the locker room before the tournament to the team? Could Ben do the same?

Or is Alexandria the team to beat now in new 6A being the Championship game was against Fergus?

I would guess this is what SCSU coach wanted too.

We will keep an eye on Lincoln and look forward to D-1 progress, all the best. You earned it!

stitches · Post by **stitches** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:13 pm

So, out side of Hanowski, what does LF have in the tank? Looks like a one man show.

huskyhawky · Post by **huskyhawky** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 11:13 pm

Congratulations on continuing your hockey career at a higher level that will better help you to develop. It is sad that the year of juniors had to take away from your high school years but in the end it is a wise choice for you even if I think it sucks. Being a husky fan I am excited for that opportunity to be a bit closer to see you at the NHC and the way the recruits are coming in you will be arriving at a great time.
Thanks for the high school memories and for helping put LF hockey on the statewide map as it is deserved.

RLStars · Post by **RLStars** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:57 am

Stealth wrote:You know, Alexandria did beat Small Falls pretty handily last week at Hockey Fest.
I think they won their own tourney?
Maybe Jared dropped the bomb in the locker room before the tournament to the team? Could Ben do the same?
Or is Alexandria the team to beat now in new 6A being the Championship game was against Fergus?

You should know that summer hockey does not carry over into the regular season. Didn't Sartell beat Duluth Marshall in Duluth last summer and win the tournament? The teams usually don't have all their regular players, some have other committments. Some teams play their newer, less experienced players more to see how they are progressing.

If Alex is going to take the win as a sign of things to come and get over confident, they will be suprised. There is a handful of teams in 6a that will have a shot at it.

Back to the topic. Good luck Jared.

Mite-dad · Post by **Mite-dad** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:36 am

Remember, LF has no summer ice and this was the first time they skated together this summer. And I wouldn't count LF out. They have a huge hole to fill no doubt with Festler and Jorgenson gone, but they still have the Hanowski boys and Berglund. Some of their other younger players were stepping it up at the end of last season also. It will be interesting, to say the least, to see how talented these other kids are; or if Festler made them look better than they are.

AngusYoung · Post by **AngusYoung** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 10:46 am

Not a big fan of this decision by Fes, nor any other HS player. Will miss out on quite a bit of his Senior year - events that are once in a lifetime. Most likely will have to play two years of Juniors anyway, so not sure that this move expedites anything for him. I'm sure the Stars coach dangled some things to entice him and I'm sure Motzko wanted to see him go this direction also so it isn't that big of a surprise. Still some decent talent on this close-knit bunch of players that will contend for the title. I guess no one ever knows if these decisions are good or bad for the kid involved as we never know what would have happened on "the road not taken." Good luck to him at any rate.

AY

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 10:55 am

Angus and I with the same thought, who would of 'thunk it'.

Can't Never Tried · Post by **Can't Never Tried** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 10:56 am

All I can say is watch your spelling

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 10:58 am

Yes, it seems angus has taken a summer school class on that subject.

Goldy Gopher · Post by **Goldy Gopher** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:12 pm

Welcome to the wide open section known as 6A

boblee · Post by **boblee** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:15 pm

Congrats to Mr. Festler. Great choice for him.

puckstopshere1 · Post by **puckstopshere1** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:49 pm

this is what we don't want to happen, the Minnesota players leaving to play jrs. early. What is wrong about staying in school, enjoying your senior year. play 30 games of elite 1, playing for a team that has a chance maybe going to a 4th state tournament and maybe Mr. Hockey. we as hockey fans should be mad as hell that we do not get to watch festler leblanc nicko this season and a brunch of corn farmers that have no clue about hockey get to see them. looking forward to a water down state tourney. please stop saying this is a good idea, we would like to keep your(minn) kids here!

southernmnscout · Post by **southernmnscout** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:55 pm

puckstopshere1 wrote:this is what we don't want to happen, the Minnesota players leaving to play jrs. early. What is wrong about staying in school, enjoying your senior year. play 30 games of elite 1, playing for a team that has a chance maybe going to a 4th state tournament and maybe Mr. Hockey. we as hockey fans should be mad as hell that we do not get to watch festler leblanc nicko this season and a brunch of corn farmers that have no clue about hockey get to see them. looking forward to a water down state tourney. please stop saying this is a good idea, we would like to keep your(minn) kids here!

Yes, we as fans would like to see them stay. But for development leaving is the best for the kid. Practicing against that competition vs. against the 2nd or 3rd line of LF is a huge difference. Even playing in Elite ! is not close to playing against the USHL every day and the off-ice training they get is second to none.

Good move for player development. Bad move for the MN high school fans.

forecheck · Post by **forecheck** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:01 pm

southernmnscout wrote:
puckstopshere1 wrote:this is what we don't want to happen, the Minnesota players leaving to play jrs. early. What is wrong about staying in school, enjoying your senior year. play 30 games of elite 1, playing for a team that has a chance maybe going to a 4th state tournament and maybe Mr. Hockey. we as hockey fans should be mad as hell that we do not get to watch festler leblanc nicko this season and a brunch of corn farmers that have no clue about hockey get to see them. looking forward to a water down state tourney. please stop saying this is a good idea, we would like to keep your(minn) kids here!
Yes, we as fans would like to see them stay. But for development leaving is the best for the kid. Practicing against that competition vs. against the 2nd or 3rd line of LF is a huge difference. Even playing in Elite ! is not close to playing against the USHL every day and the off-ice training they get is second to none.

Good move for player development. Bad move for the MN high school fans.[/quote

Adios to the entire group of early departures....LeBlanc, Saccheti, Festler,Flaherty etc... if they want to go...see ya! There will be other players to enjoy and develope while staying put with their family and friends.

The Exiled One · Post by **The Exiled One** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:13 pm

forecheck wrote:Adios to the entire group of early departures....LeBlanc, Saccheti, Festler,Flaherty etc... if they want to go...see ya! There will be other players to enjoy and develope while staying put with their family and friends.

Hermantown
Virginia
Little Falls
Duluth East

The players you mentioned were the reason for their teams' success, not vice-versa (Duluth East might be the exception). They had to leave to progress with players at a higher level. What would shock me is if anybody from Edina, Roseau, Moorhead, Warroad, or Grand Rapids defected, as the program often makes the player in those cases. AHA, Cretin, STA, and Hill-Murray kids can develop in HS just fine too, but they've already proven that they're willing to defect, so it's no shock when they do.

Gopher Blog · Post by **Gopher Blog** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:57 pm

southernmnscout wrote:Yes, we as fans would like to see them stay. But for development leaving is the best for the kid. Practicing against that competition vs. against the 2nd or 3rd line of LF is a huge difference. Even playing in Elite ! is not close to playing against the USHL every day and the off-ice training they get is second to none.

If you keep talking like this, you'll be burned at the stake around here.

Gopher Blog · Post by **Gopher Blog** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:02 pm

puckstopshere1 wrote:this is what we don't want to happen, the Minnesota players leaving to play jrs. early. What is wrong about staying in school, enjoying your senior year. play 30 games of elite 1, playing for a team that has a chance maybe going to a 4th state tournament and maybe Mr. Hockey.

There is nothing wrong with sticking around and doing the things you mention. But you are looking at it from one point of view that will not be agreed upon by every player/person. Some kids are going to see it as a better move for their future to move on to the next level a year early. I can't fault them for doing that. Pursuing their goals is a good thing. It may suck for the local HS fan but how many of us walk around in life worrying what the guy up the street wants us to do?

HS hockey is great but I am not going to rip a kid for deciding he needs to move on and push his development at the next level.

southernmnscout · Post by **southernmnscout** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 4:14 pm

Gopher Blog wrote:
puckstopshere1 wrote:this is what we don't want to happen, the Minnesota players leaving to play jrs. early. What is wrong about staying in school, enjoying your senior year. play 30 games of elite 1, playing for a team that has a chance maybe going to a 4th state tournament and maybe Mr. Hockey.
There is nothing wrong with sticking around and doing the things you mention. But you are looking at it from one point of view that will not be agreed upon by every player/person. Some kids are going to see it as a better move for their future to move on to the next level a year early. I can't fault them for doing that. Pursuing their goals is a good thing. It may suck for the local HS fan but how many of us walk around in life worrying what the guy up the street wants us to do?

HS hockey is great but I am not going to rip a kid for deciding he needs to move on and push his development at the next level.

gopher blog, you basically just said the same thing I did. Why will I be burned at the stake? I would like to see them stay to because I am greedy and would like to watch them but for development he did the best thing for him is what I am trying to say.

Gopher Blog · Post by **Gopher Blog** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 5:10 pm

southernmnscout wrote:gopher blog, you basically just said the same thing I did. Why will I be burned at the stake? I would like to see them stay to because I am greedy and would like to watch them but for development he did the best thing for him is what I am trying to say.

I was kidding in my response to you. I guess your sarcasm detector wasn't working (I did put a winking smilie at the end of my remark).

The reason I said what I did to you is because most people on this message board don't seem to like positive comments about junior hockey. Especially in regard to a player who hasn't graduated and is leaving his HS team.

Puckhead00 · Post by **Puckhead00** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:23 pm

Congratulations to Jared on a decision made. While I may not like the way hockey forces athletes into these decisions, since it exists and we can't seem to find a way around it, then I think this move is the best move Jared could have made. He leaves his high school career with many honors and seems to be at a point in his hockey career where he needs the next level and is ready for it. I too hope this means he will be at D1 level a year sooner to likely play with the 2007 grads from this year..all kids he has either played with or against. It will be a fun team in a couple of years at SCSU....lots of Minnesota made athletes.

Good luck Jared. We will miss seeing you at the high school level, but you are ready to move on. I plan to get to a Stars game or two to see you make your mark!

HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

Festler Officially Declares for USHL

Festler Officially Declares for USHL

Good luck and you will be missed!

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